in rare circumstances this can happen, but by and large cell companies stay away from this tactic. If they know you are one that jumps ship easily they would rather do without you. You could always check into it though.

Since when do modern US-based corporations think this long term? They think in quarter-increment and that means more subscribers next quarter or bust!

I suppose, but if this were the common mindset among these business, it would be easy to see the perpetual cycle. The point, after all, is to get people locked in and keep them locked in. It accomplishes very little to foot a $175 early termination fee, then give away a zero-cost subsidized phone as is done in most cases. In order for these kinds of arrangements to equal out, more than six months must pass on the average $60 monthly service. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that it is very likely a person would jump ship again when the device or service become unattractive again. This is very possible within a six month time span.

Every signature I've ever had has been modified within days. This is all that's left.

I would guess that in most cases cell companies are not going to buy out contracts for individual customers. Besides, if they do it for one person, they are going to have to do it for your friends and family as well.

The customers that AT&T would be willing to pay out contracts on would be business customers. I worked for a company that Verizon paid off 3 Nextel contracts. However, it was $100 per month for 6 months. Our average Verizon bill was close to $1200 per month so taking off $100 per month for a few months was no big deal.